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Homelessness Prevention Grant Funding

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is implementing homelessness prevention funding and strategies through the National Plan to End Homelessness, addressing housing provision and local accommodation duties. Multiple bills are in development including the Homelessness Prevention Bill and Housing and Homelessness (Local Accommodation Duty) Bill, with consultations on traveller caravan statistics and emergency housing packages. The policy aims to prevent homelessness and provide sustainable housing solutions.

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2026

1 event
24 Apr 2026 | Written question Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government linked

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 9 April (HL15984), how they plan to mitigate the risk of funding from the Ending Homelessness in Commu

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 9 April (HL15984), how they plan to mitigate the risk of funding from the Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund being concentrated among larger organisatio

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2025

16 events
18 Jun 2025 | Committee report linked

MHCLG said it had already begun to focus funding on prevention in a number of ways, including the introduction of a new £270 million grant for children’s social care prevention. It had also increased the overall homelessness prevention grant for 2025–26 and specified that 49% must be spent on prevention, relief and staffing activity rather than on providing temporary accommodation.42 MHCLG told us that there was compelling evidence that shifting to prevention, particularly for children’s soci...

MHCLG said it had already begun to focus funding on prevention in a number of ways, including the introduction of a new £270 million grant for children’s social care prevention. It had also increased the overall homelessness prevention grant for …

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3 Apr 2025 | Committee report linked

It is essential that the strategy to end homelessness has buy-in across all government departments and local authorities, and so we welcome the creation of the Inter-Ministerial Group on Homelessness and Rough Sleeping to bring about this collaboration. It is vital that all invited government departments engage fully in the preparation of the strategy. The strategy must build on the previous work of homelessness organisations and independent reports, in order to agree the specific actions and...

It is essential that the strategy to end homelessness has buy-in across all government departments and local authorities, and so we welcome the creation of the Inter-Ministerial Group on Homelessness and Rough Sleeping to bring about this collaboration. It is …

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3 Apr 2025 | Committee report linked

The Group should publish its final output, a strategy on ending homelessness, by July 2025—before the summer recess—so that the Government, homelessness organisations, and local authorities have sufficient time to start implementing the strategy and making meaningful progress towards ending homelessness during this Parliament. The Inter- Ministerial Group should continue to meet at least quarterly after the strategy is published and should publish quarterly updates on the strategy’s implement...

The Group should publish its final output, a strategy on ending homelessness, by July 2025—before the summer recess—so that the Government, homelessness organisations, and local authorities have sufficient time to start implementing the strategy and making meaningful progress towards ending …

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3 Apr 2025 | Committee report linked

We welcome the Government’s decision to increase homelessness funding for 2025/26, including the £192.9 million uplift to the Homelessness Prevention Grant (HPG). However, the decision to ringfence 49% of HPG funding for activities to prevent and relieve homelessness may be a detrimental, one-size-fits-all approach towards the pressures facing some local authorities. The ringfence may leave a gap in the funding of those councils which rely heavily on the HPG to fund temporary accommodation, a...

We welcome the Government’s decision to increase homelessness funding for 2025/26, including the £192.9 million uplift to the Homelessness Prevention Grant (HPG). However, the decision to ringfence 49% of HPG funding for activities to prevent and relieve homelessness may be …

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3 Apr 2025 | Committee report linked

We are also concerned that the Government’s decision to re-freeze Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates from April 2025 will undermine the impact of additional homelessness grant funding. We have seen compelling evidence that this is a false economy. Re-freezing LHA rates is likely to leave many families unable to afford rising private sector rents, placing them at risk of homelessness and relying on temporary accommodation. It is far more expensive for local authorities to support families onc...

We are also concerned that the Government’s decision to re-freeze Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates from April 2025 will undermine the impact of additional homelessness grant funding. We have seen compelling evidence that this is a false economy. Re-freezing LHA …

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3 Apr 2025 | Committee report linked

MHCLG and the Department for Work and Pensions must use the Inter- Ministerial Group as an opportunity to evaluate the link between welfare reforms and homelessness, particularly regarding LHA rates. We agree with the Government on the principle that, as far as possible, homelessness funding should be directed towards preventing homelessness in the first place. The Group should consider how best to move towards this preventative model while ensuring there are no unintended consequences 48 for...

MHCLG and the Department for Work and Pensions must use the Inter- Ministerial Group as an opportunity to evaluate the link between welfare reforms and homelessness, particularly regarding LHA rates. We agree with the Government on the principle that, as …

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24 Jan 2025 | Committee report linked

We are not convinced that, in setting Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates, the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) has given due consideration to the impact on homelessness. Reforms to welfare benefits since 2011, including periodically capping and freezing LHA rates, have reduced the income households can derive from benefits in real terms. Some 45% of households now face a shortfall between the LHA they receive and the rent they pay. DWP states that it makes decisions about LHA rates in th...

We are not convinced that, in setting Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates, the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) has given due consideration to the impact on homelessness. Reforms to welfare benefits since 2011, including periodically capping and freezing LHA …

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24 Jan 2025 | Committee report linked

Tackling homelessness has long been hampered by the absence of a joined up, cross-government approach. Each of the UK devolved administrations has an overarching homelessness strategy or action plan. By contrast, there is no strategy or target for homelessness in England, despite this Committee having recommended in 2017 that a cross-government strategy be published. The Government agreed with this recommendation and said it would be implemented by July 2018. In the continued absence of such ...

Tackling homelessness has long been hampered by the absence of a joined up, cross-government approach. Each of the UK devolved administrations has an overarching homelessness strategy or action plan. By contrast, there is no strategy or target for homelessness in …

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24 Jan 2025 | Committee report linked

On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) on the effectiveness of government in tackling homelessness.1 We also received written submissions from a large number of interested parties, drawing attention to a range of themes including homelessness prevention, Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates, the need for a homelessness strategy, housing ...

On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) on the effectiveness of government in tackling …

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24 Jan 2025 | Committee report linked

In its written submission, the Shared Health Foundation emphasised that, aside from plans to build more houses, national prevention strategies for all forms of homelessness remain limited. It claimed that many families facing homelessness are told by local authorities to wait until their eviction date before being provided with emergency support, because of a lack of viable preventive measures.12

In its written submission, the Shared Health Foundation emphasised that, aside from plans to build more houses, national prevention strategies for all forms of homelessness remain limited. It claimed that many families facing homelessness are told by local authorities to …

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24 Jan 2025 | Committee report linked

MHCLG explained that a £230 million increase in allocations for homelessness in the autumn 2024 budget, including uplifts in the Homelessness Prevention Grant, and an improved wider local government finance settlement, should help local authorities to do more preventive work. It also summarised a number of other actions that might give local authorities the breathing space to do this, including: reducing the number of households presenting as homeless in the first place, which would depend on...

MHCLG explained that a £230 million increase in allocations for homelessness in the autumn 2024 budget, including uplifts in the Homelessness Prevention Grant, and an improved wider local government finance settlement, should help local authorities to do more preventive work. …

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24 Jan 2025 | Committee report linked

We challenged MHCLG about what it is doing to help local authorities reduce their reliance on B&Bs. It explained that it had added a condition to the Homelessness Prevention Grant, so that it now requires any local authority with more than five families in B&B accommodation over the statutory six-week limit to work with MHCLG to agree a B&B elimination plan. Each plan, which is overseen by MHCLG’s Homelessness Advice and Support Team (HAST), is intended to address the particular challenges th...

We challenged MHCLG about what it is doing to help local authorities reduce their reliance on B&Bs. It explained that it had added a condition to the Homelessness Prevention Grant, so that it now requires any local authority with more …

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24 Jan 2025 | Committee report linked

Each of the UK devolved administrations has an overarching homelessness strategy or action plan. In late 2023, the Welsh Government also issued a consultation on homelessness, including proposals such as: extending local authorities’ prevention duty to six months; targeting prevention activities towards those most at risk; and improving standards relating to the suitability of accommodation. In addition, in March 2024, the Scottish Government introduced a housing bill that included new duties...

Each of the UK devolved administrations has an overarching homelessness strategy or action plan. In late 2023, the Welsh Government also issued a consultation on homelessness, including proposals such as: extending local authorities’ prevention duty to six months; targeting prevention …

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24 Jan 2025 | Committee report linked

Several written submissions to our inquiry suggested principles or priorities for a homelessness strategy. Crisis, for example, emphasised the need for evidence-based interventions that both support people to move on from homelessness for good and prevent it from happening in the first place.35 Dr David Christie suggested that a substantial input of funds should be directed toward increasing the capacity and skill-base of the voluntary sector.36 And Salford City Council called for a genuinely...

Several written submissions to our inquiry suggested principles or priorities for a homelessness strategy. Crisis, for example, emphasised the need for evidence-based interventions that both support people to move on from homelessness for good and prevent it from happening in …

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24 Jan 2025 | Committee report linked

MHCLG explained that an inter-ministerial group on homelessness now exists, and it chairs the equivalent officials group. It plans to produce a cross-government strategy for tackling homelessness in 2025, which will include a number of metrics and set out the way that progress against these metrics will be measured. We challenged MHCLG on whether the inter- ministerial group will remove the need for the 15 cross-government boards 34 HM Treasury, Government response to the Committee of Public ...

MHCLG explained that an inter-ministerial group on homelessness now exists, and it chairs the equivalent officials group. It plans to produce a cross-government strategy for tackling homelessness in 2025, which will include a number of metrics and set out the …

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24 Jan 2025 | Committee report linked

We pressed MHCLG on the poor coordination in funding for homelessness caused by the absence of a cross-government strategy. Local authorities need to understand numerous funding streams, from different government departments. MHCLG explained that its November 2024 local government funding policy statement undertook to roll together three of its funding streams for 2025–26–the Rough Sleeping Initiative, the Ex-Offenders Grant and Housing First–to sit alongside the main Homelessness Prevention ...

We pressed MHCLG on the poor coordination in funding for homelessness caused by the absence of a cross-government strategy. Local authorities need to understand numerous funding streams, from different government departments. MHCLG explained that its November 2024 local government funding …

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2024

2 events
23 Feb 2024 | Committee report linked

We questioned the usefulness of the spend data DLUHC had collected from local authorities, given it was often qualitative and provided voluntarily.19 DLUHC stressed that from the start it had needed to balance the demand for data against placing a burden on local authorities.20 Preventing homelessness

We questioned the usefulness of the spend data DLUHC had collected from local authorities, given it was often qualitative and provided voluntarily.19 DLUHC stressed that from the start it had needed to balance the demand for data against placing a …

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23 Feb 2024 | Committee report linked

DLLUHC told us that 790 Ukrainian households taking part in the scheme were currently in temporary accommodation, and 8% were either experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness at any particular time.28 We asked DLUHC how it would respond in the event of an increase in the levels of homelessness or risk of homelessness for those taking part in the scheme, particularly given the severe pressures on levels of homelessness in the general population. It told us that it was conscious of t...

DLLUHC told us that 790 Ukrainian households taking part in the scheme were currently in temporary accommodation, and 8% were either experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness at any particular time.28 We asked DLUHC how it would respond in …

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2021

8 events
31 Mar 2021 | Committee report linked

We call on the Government to deliver a specific financial package—we prefer discretionary housing payments—to support tenants to repay rent arrears caused by covid-19, in consultation with the Local Government Association and appropriate bodies representing renters and landlords. We received an estimate that this package will likely cost between £200 and £300 million. Given the number of potential evictions this would prevent, it would likely save the Exchequer a substantial amount in homeles...

We call on the Government to deliver a specific financial package—we prefer discretionary housing payments—to support tenants to repay rent arrears caused by covid-19, in consultation with the Local Government Association and appropriate bodies representing renters and landlords. We received …

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31 Mar 2021 | Committee report linked

We call on the Government to return to the spirit of the early pandemic and re- commit to Everyone In. This requires providing legal clarity for local authorities. We recommend the Government immediately issues clear guidance to local authorities stating that they can and should use their legal powers under the Local Government Act 1972 and NHS Act 2006 to find accommodation for those otherwise ineligible for support during a public health emergency. The guidance should clearly state that thi...

We call on the Government to return to the spirit of the early pandemic and re- commit to Everyone In. This requires providing legal clarity for local authorities. We recommend the Government immediately issues clear guidance to local authorities stating …

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17 Mar 2021 | Committee report linked

The Department still does not have a plan for achieving its target of ending rough sleeping by 2024, and risks failing to capitalise on the successes of Everyone In. Following the general election in December 2019 the government began this Parliament with a manifesto commitment to end rough sleeping by May 2024: only three years from now. This brought forward the government’s previous commitment, which had been to end rough sleeping by May 2027. In February 2020 the Department commissioned a ...

The Department still does not have a plan for achieving its target of ending rough sleeping by 2024, and risks failing to capitalise on the successes of Everyone In. Following the general election in December 2019 the government began this …

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17 Mar 2021 | Committee report linked

The Department has provided a number of different funding streams to local authorities to cover the pandemic response for people sleeping rough, but many are short-term and reactive, and the Department does not have a cohesive long- term funding plan for its commitment to end rough sleeping. Local authorities expect to spend £192 million on rehousing people sleeping rough by the end of March 2021. The Department provided £4.6 billion between March and October 2020 to cover additional costs re...

The Department has provided a number of different funding streams to local authorities to cover the pandemic response for people sleeping rough, but many are short-term and reactive, and the Department does not have a cohesive long- term funding plan …

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17 Mar 2021 | Committee report linked

The Department’s current Rough Sleeping Strategy was launched in August 2018, with a commitment to end rough sleeping by 2027.22 In December 2019 the new Government was elected with a manifesto commitment to end rough sleeping by May 2024, three years earlier than the previous target.23 Following the adoption of this accelerated target, the Department recognised the need to review its existing strategy.24 In December it successfully asked Baroness Casey to lead a review; this was announced in...

The Department’s current Rough Sleeping Strategy was launched in August 2018, with a commitment to end rough sleeping by 2027.22 In December 2019 the new Government was elected with a manifesto commitment to end rough sleeping by May 2024, three …

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17 Mar 2021 | Committee report linked

As of January 2021, local authorities said they were expecting to spend an extra £192 million in the 2020–21 financial year, in respect of additional spending on homelessness and rough sleeping as a result of the pandemic.46 The Department considers that it has reimbursed local authorities for the costs paid out so far, with funding provided as part of wider support to local government and their finances over the past year.47 As of December 2020, the Department had distributed £4.6 billion in...

As of January 2021, local authorities said they were expecting to spend an extra £192 million in the 2020–21 financial year, in respect of additional spending on homelessness and rough sleeping as a result of the pandemic.46 The Department considers …

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17 Mar 2021 | Committee report linked

In addition, the Department is providing around £700 million for rough sleeping and homelessness in 2020–21, with the majority of this funding distributed through local authorities.49 Before the pandemic, the Department had planned to spend £495 million in 2020–21, as announced in previous spending rounds and the 2020 Budget.50 The Department told us that, as a result of the crisis, it had increased the funding available with £225 million of new money. This is a combination of money brought f...

In addition, the Department is providing around £700 million for rough sleeping and homelessness in 2020–21, with the majority of this funding distributed through local authorities.49 Before the pandemic, the Department had planned to spend £495 million in 2020–21, as …

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17 Mar 2021 | Committee report linked

Since October 2020, the Department has made a series of smaller funding commitments for the winter months, including a £10 million Cold Weather Fund, £12 million Protect Programme and £10 million in January 2021 for extra COVID protection for people sleeping rough.53 The Department told us that in its consideration local authorities had adequate funding to protect people sleeping rough over the winter months, but was keeping this under review.54 We heard from local authorities and voluntary o...

Since October 2020, the Department has made a series of smaller funding commitments for the winter months, including a £10 million Cold Weather Fund, £12 million Protect Programme and £10 million in January 2021 for extra COVID protection for people …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK